Who is Anny Rehwaldt?
I grew up in a lovely suburb of Los Angeles called Arcadia, California. After going to college at the University of Southern California I worked as a Deputy Sheriff in Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department while going to law school at night at Whittier College School of Law. Deciding not to pursue a career in law, I instead trained as a massage therapist and enjoyed working as a masseuse for several years. Tired of the crowds and traffic in Los Angeles I then moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where I worked as a 9th grade History teacher. I was lucky enough to live in our family's cabin on a stream in the Black Hills. It was idyllic. Beautiful scenery, clean air, no traffic. Wonderful students.
After teaching there for five years I moved to Wisconsin for love. My fiance was a potter who worked in a little farming community called Cambridge, Wisconsin. After we were married I was lucky enough again to get a job teaching history to fabulous young people. Shortly I had a baby girl who was and is to this day the joy of my life. Her father moved back to England where he was raised. After about eight years of teaching in Wisconsin, my older sister made me an offer I couldn't refuse. She said if I moved to upstate New York with her she would pay the bills if I kept house and cooked for the three of us. I could write books in my spare time. So we moved to Livingston Manor, New York and I did just that. I cooked whatever I wanted and began writing my first novel about Clotilda, the princess of Burgundy who became Queen of the Franks.
I quickly became hooked on writing. After doing lots of research, every day the pages nearly filled themselves. So many disasters and heartbreaks befell Clotilda and her large family I could hardly believe it myself. When I was finished with the novel I was happy with the result. I looked forward to my next book.
I started doing research on Muhammad and Arabia in the 6th century. There was so much to read about. Falconry, almond orchards, Bedouin culture, camels, weaving and textiles, the Koran and of course Muhammad himself. Once I started writing, the magic locked hold of me once again and the book nearly wrote itself. His story is so compelling that I feel it is a pity more people do not know about his humble beginnings as an orphan primarily raised by his grandfather, a prominent leader of Mecca at the time.
My third novel is set closer to home in time and place. In 1587 Sir Walter Raleigh filled three ships with potential colonists and everything they would need to start life in the New World. They set sail from England to America, destined for what Raleigh had named Virginia after his beloved Queen Elisabeth, the Virgin Queen. Unfortunately hardships and disaster were awaiting them. Their voyage was arduous and once landing in Virginia, things went from bad to worse. Rapidly. If you ever find yourself in the outer banks of North Carolina you can attend an open air theatrical performance of one version of the tale of what became of the colonists. To this day no one knows for sure.
I now live in the beautiful Poconos of Pennsylvania with my husband of fifteen years, Bruce. We live in the midst of the forest with a little stream running through our backyard. Yes, idyllic. Deer come grazing through the trees almost every evening, even in winter. Every spring we look forward to seeing the newborns with their adorable spots. Quite often it is twins. Once in a while a mommy bear wanders by with her cubs in tow. Usually two. Last year she had three!! They were so cute walking single file behind their mother.
I'm percolating ideas for a fourth novel. It'll have to be something I'm passionate about, something I can research till I know enough about the topic to let the story flow out of me as effortlessly as the first three novels did. Time will tell. As soon as I have written the first dozen chapters, I'll let you know what the story will be about. Promise.
After teaching there for five years I moved to Wisconsin for love. My fiance was a potter who worked in a little farming community called Cambridge, Wisconsin. After we were married I was lucky enough again to get a job teaching history to fabulous young people. Shortly I had a baby girl who was and is to this day the joy of my life. Her father moved back to England where he was raised. After about eight years of teaching in Wisconsin, my older sister made me an offer I couldn't refuse. She said if I moved to upstate New York with her she would pay the bills if I kept house and cooked for the three of us. I could write books in my spare time. So we moved to Livingston Manor, New York and I did just that. I cooked whatever I wanted and began writing my first novel about Clotilda, the princess of Burgundy who became Queen of the Franks.
I quickly became hooked on writing. After doing lots of research, every day the pages nearly filled themselves. So many disasters and heartbreaks befell Clotilda and her large family I could hardly believe it myself. When I was finished with the novel I was happy with the result. I looked forward to my next book.
I started doing research on Muhammad and Arabia in the 6th century. There was so much to read about. Falconry, almond orchards, Bedouin culture, camels, weaving and textiles, the Koran and of course Muhammad himself. Once I started writing, the magic locked hold of me once again and the book nearly wrote itself. His story is so compelling that I feel it is a pity more people do not know about his humble beginnings as an orphan primarily raised by his grandfather, a prominent leader of Mecca at the time.
My third novel is set closer to home in time and place. In 1587 Sir Walter Raleigh filled three ships with potential colonists and everything they would need to start life in the New World. They set sail from England to America, destined for what Raleigh had named Virginia after his beloved Queen Elisabeth, the Virgin Queen. Unfortunately hardships and disaster were awaiting them. Their voyage was arduous and once landing in Virginia, things went from bad to worse. Rapidly. If you ever find yourself in the outer banks of North Carolina you can attend an open air theatrical performance of one version of the tale of what became of the colonists. To this day no one knows for sure.
I now live in the beautiful Poconos of Pennsylvania with my husband of fifteen years, Bruce. We live in the midst of the forest with a little stream running through our backyard. Yes, idyllic. Deer come grazing through the trees almost every evening, even in winter. Every spring we look forward to seeing the newborns with their adorable spots. Quite often it is twins. Once in a while a mommy bear wanders by with her cubs in tow. Usually two. Last year she had three!! They were so cute walking single file behind their mother.
I'm percolating ideas for a fourth novel. It'll have to be something I'm passionate about, something I can research till I know enough about the topic to let the story flow out of me as effortlessly as the first three novels did. Time will tell. As soon as I have written the first dozen chapters, I'll let you know what the story will be about. Promise.
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